Jeffrey Tidus was shot Monday around 8:30 p.m. as he was fetching a laptop from his car. His wife heard a single gunshot ring out and rushed outside to find him lying in the driveway behind his blue Toyota Prius, sheriff's homicide Lt. Dave Dolson said.

"There are certain factors about it that indicate it could be a targeted killing," Dolson said. "We haven't ruled anything out."

No weapon was immediately found but sheriff's deputies and volunteers peered in hedges and scoured around surrounding houses along the street looking for clues. A scent dog was brought in to assist Tuesday evening.

Tidus' ranch-style home remained cordoned off by police tape. Several pink plastic flamingoes decorating his front lawn blinked with festive lights. Detectives were speaking to his wife inside the house.

High-profile clients
Tidus, 53, had represented a string of high-profile clients including Hawthorne Savings, Isuzu Motors of America and defunct subprime lender New Century Financial, according to his Web site.

Dolson said investigators did not know of a motive but would be screening Tidus' past.